Research Interests

My research is concerned with the ecology of springs and small streams, i.e. headwaters. We are interested in the function and isolation of springs in montane and (sub)alpine regions, their historical colonization and the current distribution of spring organisms. Furthermore, we want to understand how climatic changes will affect spring ecosystems in the future. Here we focus on springs and springbrooks in the Biosfera Engiadina Val Müstair https://nationalpark.ch/forschung/quellen-quellbaeche/

Moreover, we want to foster spring conservation and restoration. https://www.biosphaerengebiet-schwarzwald.de/quellenschutz/

I am also interested in applied aspects of limnology such as ecotoxicology, restoration and water quality assessment.

Curriculum vitae

from August 2018 Head of the working group spring- and freshwater ecology & research fellow, University of Basel

2018 Habilitation at the University of Basel

from 2015- July 2018 Ad interim in charge of the Biogeography / Geoecology resarch group, Departement of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel

from 2010 Permanent position as Researcher in the Biogeography research group, Departement of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel

2008-2010 Research assisstant in the Biogeography research group, Departement of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel

2008 Dr. phil. (summa cum laude), University of Basel: "Distribution, discharge and disturbance: new insights into faunal spring ecology". (Supervisor: Prof. Dr. P. Nagel)

2004-2008 Assistant in the Biogeography research group, Departement of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel

2004 Diploma thesis in Limnology, University of Freiburg: "Anwendung ökologischer Quellbewertungsverfahren auf Quellen im Basler Umland"

1999-2004 Studies in Biology, Freie Universität Berlin und University of Freiburg, Germany (Major: Limnology, minor: Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Hydrology)

Key Publications

Wüthrich A, Ebner J, Bruder A & von Fumetti S, 2025. Effects of the fungicide azoxystrobin and wastewater effluent on leaf‑associated fungal communities and a key amphipod shredder. Hydrobiologia 852: 3463–3483. 

Von Fumetti S & Abderhalden A, 2024. Monitoring potential impacts of climate change on the biodiversity of springs and springbrooks in the Central Alps. Aquatic Sciences 86:80.

Blattner L, Ebner J, Zopfi J & von Fumetti S, 2021.Targeted non-invasive bioindicator species detection in eDNA water samples to assess and monitor the integrity of vulnerable alpine freshwater environments. Ecological Indicators 129: 107916 

Ebner J, Ritz D & von Fumetti S, 2019. Comparative proteomics of stenotopic caddisfly Crunoecia irrorata identifies acclimation strategies to warming. Molecular Ecology 

Pešić V, Dmitrović D, Savić A, Milošević D, Zawal A, Vukašinović-Pešić V, Von Fumetti S, 2019. Application of macroinvertebrate multimetrics as a measure of the impact of anthropogenic modification of spring habitats. Aquatic Conservation

Bigs J, Von Fumetti S, Kelly-Quinn M, 2017. The importance of small water bodies for biodiversity and ecosystem services: implications for policy makers. Hydrobiologia 793: 3-39.                     

Von Fumetti S, Nagel P & Baltes B, 2007. Where a springhead becomes a springbrook - a regional zonation of springs. Fundamental and Applied Limnology 169: 37-48.